Oh, Benjamin...

First of all, come on man, was that absolutely necessary?


Even if he has had three concussions, we already know his brain is damaged. Why rub it in? I mean, was this written by the Cleveland AP bureau? Something fishy's going on...

No, but seriously. By now I'm sure you've heard that Big Ben's injury looks significantly less serious than what the 15 minutes he spent on the ground and the gurney he was carried off on might have suggested. Actually, he didn't even stay the night in the hospital, as we were originally told that he would. In fact, they were saying he might even practice this week.

Color me relieved.

Now, look, maybe this is just me, but come on, after that feeling of relief that he wasn't dead or involuntarily incapacitated in some biological way, aren't you just a little irritated?

And I'm not talking about with Tomlin. The man did what he had to do. This Offense has been about as impressive as Gradkowski's QB rating was last Sunday. I just want to make clear that playing Ben was the right thing. It had a wrong result. But that wasn't so much Tomlin's fault as it was just plain old bad luck.

I'm talking about with Ben. Troy Polamalu gets his 874th concussion of his career earlier in the season and he jogs off the field. Ben gets a concussion and God damned Armageddon erupts. We've got the backboard, the cart, the heroic thumbs up while being taken off the field. My heart stopping momentarily as a result...


Whatever.

So then, what are we to think about Big Ben?

On the one hand, everyone wants to bring up how Ben came off a concussion in one week back in '06 and threw the game away on Monday night to the Raiders.


But on the other hand, that was Week 8 of 2006. It is now the 2008 POST season. And Ben's a champ.

A guy who'll do whatever he's gotta do to win.


Sometimes to a fault.

Do I have faith in Ben?

Of course I do.

He may not be the brightest bulb, and as Domski mentioned yesterday, he has an unhealthy affinity for FUBU sweats...

But I mean, what thug doesn't? Honestly.

Seriously, though. At this point, what can we do? Just sit back. Try and relax. Enjoy next weekends games. Hope that Miami somehow beats the Ravens. Or that someone gives Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis a Crosby punch in the junk. And that Ben rests his pretty little head this week so he's as solid as physically possible for next weekend.

And finally, I'd like to officially say that I'm not going to talk about the 2009 schedule this morning. I'm aware that it was released. But frankly my dears, I don't give a damn. It's still friggin' 2008. Not to spoil it or anything, but if you've been following along at home, you'll know we're playing the NFC North. Steelers-Lions. I'm fired up already...

...Yeah...


Are you there God? It's me, Benjamin?

Good Thing They Didn't Ask Big Ben...

Suggested Caption: "You know, you're right, Jenny. Helmets do save lives. We should get you to talk to Ben."

[Editor's Note: I realize you may have already heard about this from a couple of other sources, but you haven't heard it from me. So I respectfully ask that you indulge me. Gracias.]

Man, never have I been so irritated that I live in Manhattan than this week. For a variety of reasons, most of which won't concern me here. But the one that does is that I was invited to attend an event at Park Elementary School in Munhall, PA, at which Hines Ward spoke to some budding Steelers fans about safety, unveiling "Safety Town."

It's no secret that Hines loves the kids (and attention). So it's not altogether surprising that he'd partner with FedEx and Safe Kids Pittsburgh on this one. The general premise of "Safety Town" is that it's a venue to teach kids about pedestrian safety, particularly things like how to safely cross the street or play on the playground.

Anyways, bravo to Hines, FedEx and Safe Kids Pittsburgh. If these kids can't learn safety from Hines Ward, who can they learn it from?

Here are a couple of other pictures from the event...you know, if you're into that sort of thing...




Done.

Lest We Forget The Crash Heard 'Round The 'Burgh...

Everywhere I looked today I was reminded of that day exactly one year ago when our emotional high from winning Super Bowl XL took a severe turn for the worse.

Unfortunately, I remember it like it was yesterday. I was sitting on the couch of a beautiful house in Ocean City, MD about to start the festivities (hey, I was on vacation), when an ESPN news flash delivered the alarming news.

What followed was a lot of pacing and "what the...I mean, was he...how could he...he wasn't wearing...you gotta be [fill in the blank] kidding me," along with some long, pensive silences, and just a few tears. Ok, no tears but it might have come to that, I'm serious...

One year and one seemingly cursed season later, Big Ben seems to be completely over the whole ordeal physically. Mentally, who knows? But hopefully this whole experience has at least taught him that life is precious. Although he hasn't exactly vowed to start wearing a helmet, hopefully he will at least be more careful about when, where and how he rides that steel pony.

Ben, you're an idiot, but you're our idiot. Cheers buddy, here's to being alive and kickin some ass in 2007!

Sincerely, Your Friend,
Cotter